Families begin the admissions process in the fall the year before planned enrollment. Applications for entry in Fall 2024 open on September 15, 2023.

The admissions application costs $125 and is valid for two years. For families applying for financial assistance, the application fee is waived. Fees for testing vary depending on the grade. Please note that all fees are nonrefundable.

Parker enrolls students who are academically, developmentally, and socially prepared to navigate our program. To complete an application, applicants must submit previous report cards, standardized testing results (if applicable), and recommendation forms completed by current math and English teachers, and an administrator. Additionally, applicants must complete an assessment and meet with the Admissions Office for an interview.

To read a detailed explanation of the application steps, please visit our division specific pages:

Lower School (Junior Kindergarten, Senior Kindergarten, and Grades 1-5)
Middle School (Grades 6 -8)
Upper School (Grades 9-12)

The deadline for priority consideration is February 1, 2024 with decision notification on March 8, 2024. If a family misses the priority consideration deadline, applications may still be submitted for consideration to join the waitpool.

Parker uses Ravenna, an online platform, to manage the admission process. In addition to registering for admissions events, families (and the applicant's current school) will use Ravenna to submit application materials and check their application status.

Follow the steps below to view your admissions checklist:

1. Log in to Ravenna
2. Click your child's name
3. Click the "Go to application" button
4. View the right side of page – a green checkmark indicates the step is complete
5. Click the "Show me what's left" button for information on the incomplete steps

We process a high volume of applications, so please allow up to 48 hours for submitted materials to be marked as received.

We are aware that some school districts don't allow students to submit teacher references, and still welcome applications from those districts.

Please inform your admissions division if your student is in this situation, and the reference requirement can be waived. We strongly encourage these applicants to submit supplemental references to aid in our application review (form available in Ravenna). Any adult not related to the student - a coach, mentor, tutor, etc. - is welcome to submit a supplemental reference.

Most openings occur in Junior Kindergarten, Grade 6, and Grade 9, so it's best to apply for these grade levels when eligible; however, we consider applications to other grades based on attrition. Please inquire with the Admissions Office about availability in other grades.

In a typical year, we will have the following number of planned openings:

Junior Kindergarten: 48 students
Senior Kindergarten: 12 students
Grade 6: 40-45 students *
Grade 9: 30-35 students *

* The number of actual new students depends on the planned opening plus attrition.

Limited spaces may be available in Grades 1-5, Grades 7 and 8, and Grades 10 and 11. Please contact the Admissions Office for more information.

Parker values the opportunity to enroll students from all over San Diego County. We seek students from a variety of schools with different missions and programs. This past year, we offered places to students from 103 different public, private, and independent schools from more than 80 zip codes.

Admission is never guaranteed for any student. Students are only admitted if they demonstrate qualities important to their future success at the school.

During the application process, we do take into consideration whether a prospective student is the child of a Parker alumnus or employee, or the sibling of a current Parker student or graduate. 

Legacies are defined as biological or adopted children of alumni. Employee children are defined as the biological or adopted children of full-time faculty or staff members. A sibling is defined as a biological or adopted brother or sister of a child currently enrolled at Parker. 

Legacies, faculty/staff children, and siblings are notified of admissions decisions in March.

Yes, the Lower School has age requirements. Children must be four by July 31st of the year they seek enrollment in the Junior Kindergarten class; five for Senior Kindergarten. Subsequent numbered elementary school grades have the same cut-off date as the children advance in age. Middle and Upper School applicants do not have birth date cut-offs.

Applicants will be notified on March 8, 2024 via their Ravenna account.

The Admissions Committee will issue one of the following decisions:

• Admit: Student is offered enrollment, and enrollment instructions will be emailed to the student's parent(s)/guardian(s).
• Waitlist ("Waitpool"): Student is qualified for admission but is not currently offered enrollment because no spaces are available. Student will be contacted if a space becomes available. Waitpool candidates are not ranked, and a waitpool decision from a previous year does not give a candidate priority in subsequent years.
• Deny: Our program is not currently an appropriate match for the student.

Parker does consider late applications though most available seats will be filled by students who apply by February 1, 2024 (priority application deadline). Applicants who complete their applications after this date will be processed and considered if openings become available.